Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The ball, speeding from under the animals' feet, had rolled straight toward the goal.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1904
Dimensions:
34 × 24 in. (86.4 × 61 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.583
Research Number: NCW: 583
InscribedLower right: N. C. Wyeth -- 04
Provenance(Kennedy Galleries, New York, NY, 1972); (?); Private collection, Frederick, MD, to 1987; (Illustration House, New York, NY, 1988); (Beresford Galleries, Potomac, MD, 1988); Private collection, Los Angeles, CA, 1988
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 266, b/w illustration p. 31; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.32, p. 111
Curatorial RemarksWyeth secured this commission at the end of April during a trip to New York. On May 8, 1904, he wrote to his parents, "I've laid in my polo picture (very large) and look forward to a struggle judging from its present condition." A week later, "I am still working on my polo picture and am sorry to say I have not improved it much these last two days. Tomorrow I'll sail in and kill or cure." Several days later, he reported, "My polo picture is nearing its completion and I am pleased to say favorably so.... Am enjoying it much which is a good sign as to its result." In a later letter he judged it "first class." (all letters, Wyeth Family Archives). Before coming to Wilmington to study with Howard Pyle, Wyeth had painted pictures at the Karlstein Polo Grounds in Dedham, Massachusetts; the Brandywine River Museum holds a wash drawing of similar composition from that period (96.1.72, NCW 1549.)
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Courtesy of Illustration House, New York, NY